Piston ring assembly for internal combustion engines and piston ring elements therefor



June 14, 1960 H. P. PHILLIPS ,94 03 PISTON RING ASSEMBLY FDR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES AND PISTON RING ELEMENTS THEREFOR Filed March 23, 1959 & 5 I d- 4 N H \V J7 Z- INVENTOR. j J flaw/0 t 5 mma/6M A TTORNEK PISTON RING ASSEMBLY FOR INTERNAL COM- BUSTION ENGINES AND PISTON RING ELE- MENTS THEREFOR Harold P. Phillips, Hastings, Mich., assignor to Hastings Manufacturing Company, Hastings, Mich.

Filed Mar. 23, 1959, Ser- No. 801,013

10 Claims. (Cl. 309-44) This invention relates to piston ring assemblies for an internal combustion engine and one which is highly desirable for use in four cycle type engines, two cycle type engines, and also for diesel type engines.

The main objects of this invention are,

First, to provide a piston ring assembly which is highly efficiently as a compression ring assembly and at the same time fouling such as results from the escape of lubricant into the combustion chamber.

Second, to provide a piston ring assembly which is well adapted and highly eflicient foruse in high speed internal combustion engines and maintains its efficiency for over relatively long periods of use.

Third, to provide a so-called compression piston ring assembly which is not materially afiected by high tem-' peratures.

Fourth, to provide a piston ring element having these several advantages which may be very economically produced.

Objects relating to details and economies of the in-- vention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary longitudinal sectionof a piston ring assembly embodying my invention,

to dimensions.

- Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view further illustrating structural details.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of one of the piston ring elements, no attempt being made to illustrate the peripheral or face bevel of the ring element, but illustrating that it is a split element.

Fig. 4, is an enlarged cross-sectional View of one of the ring elements embodying my invention.

Fig. 5 is a view illustrating a desirable degree of face and side bevels and their relation to each other.

In considering these drawings, it should be understood that they are not made to scale, but are greatly enlarged insofar as the piston ring grooves and the thickness of the ring elements and the chrome plating thereon are concerned.

While piston ring grooves vary in width and depth in commercial production, the ring elements dimensioned as stated are for a groove of approximately .095 in width. The axial thickness of the ring elements may vary considerably, but may be .045 which results in a clearance of .005.

The ring elements are formed of ribbon steel coiled edgewise and this results in a slight outward taper which I have not attempted to illustrate in the accompanying drawing. The clearance for the ring elements in the groove should be such as to permit the ring elements to expand and contract independently relative to each other.

In the accompanying drawing 1 represents a cylinder wall, 2 a piston provided with a compression ring groove 3 and a second groove 4. A pair of piston ring elements certain parts being shown conventionally and without special regard applies to the 5, 5 are disposed in the compression ring groove 3 which, it will be noted, is without drainage and that also coiled edgewise and havesplits 6 therein to expand and contract to maintain con- It will be understoodthat of ribbon steel permitting them tact with the cylinder wall.

while cylinder Walls are initially ofthe same diameter from top to bottom, the walls do wear in use and one object of the invention is to provide an effective seal under such wear conditions and irregularities as may result from wear. Such conditions are well known. The important factor of my invention is that my piston ringassemblies are highly efiicient in preventing blow-by or maintaining an effective seal of the combustion chamber and atthe same time lubricant passing the piston rings.

The piston ring elements 5 are formed of ribbon steel:-

coiled edgewise and are provided with continuouslybeveled or'upwardly inclined peripheral faces 7. The under or bottom sides 8 of the ringelement have side bevels 9 which intersect or meet the bevel faces of the ring, desirably substantially at right angles, that being whatis illustrated in the drawing. The bevels 9 are 10 bevels while the bevel faces are upwardly inclined so thatthese faces and the side bevels aretin approximately 90 lar relation to each other. of the face ofthe ring may be considerably varied. The chrome plating, designated by the numeral 10, is lap-,

anguof the bevel 9 being to permit this lapping so that the cylinder wall contacting point 12 of the chrome isclosely adjacent the lower side face 8 of the ring elements. The chrome on the face of the ring gradually tapers or gradually diminishes in thickness from the con, tact zone 12 toward the upper side of the ring. This arrangement permits an efiective bonding of the chrome to the ringelements and the cylinder wall contact is in approximately the plane of intersection of the bevels of the ring elements, that is, the inclined face thereof and the side bevels and the contact point is substantially:

a line. When the rings are installed they quickly wear in;

so far as any slight irregularities in the plating is con cerned, and a narrow contact is maintained throughout: the life of the ring. The bevel on the under side of the: ring is sutficient so that the chrome may overlap the ring at 11 and does not interfere with the cylinder wall, and aclearance is provided for the upper ring of the assembly,.

that is, the rings may expand and contract within the groove independently of each other. With this arrange-- ment a highly effective compression seal is provided as well as effectively preventing the passage of lubricant, The ring elements do not provide pockets forthe lubricant. As a commercial example, cylinders in which the compression groove is of an inch in width are extensively used. For such grooves the applicant recom-1 mends ring elements of his invention of a thickness of .045 plus or minus .0005. This insures that the ring ele-;

ments have free radial movement in the groove and rela-- tive to each other. With grooves of other Widths the actual thickness of the ring is desirably varied to pro-2 vide the indicated amount of clearance which is suflicieutto permit the independent expansion and contraction of the ring elements without undesirable clearance. In the embodiment illustrated, the ring elements designated generally by the numerals 13 are the same as described with the exception that they are of less radial. width and are provided with an expander 14. These ring grooves 3 and 4 are commonly designated as first and second,compressionring grooves. It is notdeemed;

desirableto 'provideexpander rings 14 in the grooves 3:

as theflieat to whichit'would be normally subjected; destroys its tension. In Fig. 5 I conventionally illustrate Patented June 14 ,196.03

groove 4. The ring elements 5 are formed preventing. thefouling thereof by However, the inclination onto the bevel 9 at 11, the main-purposee liar-damn inclined thickness of the said ring 7 of the groove being such I the groove independently a plating on its peripheral bevel on its under side,

i 7 thegroove being-such as to without drain opening,

or beveled face and side. The side bevel may desirably extend .020 .030 of an inch as is indicated." That does ,not materially detract from does provide clearance for the overlapping chromenonlthe beveiedisurtace.

"LIE have illustrated and described my i-nventionIin a *highly'practkalicom'rnercial embodimentand itis be- V lievedthat thisldisclosure artjto embody 'or adaptrmyxinvention to engines having the resilience of the ring, but

will enable thoseskilled in the cylinders andpistons of varying dimensions and to engines of the four; ycle, two cycle, and diesel types.

What is claimedtas new is: 1 a 1.,In combination, a piston having a compression an groove adjacent its'fhead, and two .split radially j expandable'ring elements of substantially the same axial thicknessformedof ribbon steel. coiledi edgewise disposed in said groovein side by side relation, the combined axial elements-relative to the width as to provide clearance permitting the ring elements to expand, andjcontract within ximately 10 said peripheral'bevel, the pe being at approximately 90" angle relative tofeach other, said face lappingly extended onto the element and lapping upon said side bevel and extendnig i substantially but in gradually diminishing thickness upon f 4. In combination,

of the'ring' element. 7

the peripheral face a piston having a ring groove therein without drainopenin elements formed of ribbon steel coiled edgewise disposed in said groove in side by siderel'at-ion, a combined axial thickness ofsaid ring on the underside surface'thereot intersecting-the inclined relative to each other,1 said 7 H ringa'elementsxbeing without substantial dish and each having arcontinuous' beveled upwardly inclined-"peripheral u ,face-i'and azbevel of appr thereof intersecting the ripheral' and; sidebevels in Without drain opening,

on the underside 7' '25 ring element having chrome said zone substantially across the peripheral t ace of'the ring element, the width of the bevel on the'under side of 2. 'In combination, a piston having a compression ring groove adjacent its head, and two split radially expandable ring elements of substantially the same axial thickness formed of ribbon steel coiled edgewise disposed in said ness of the said ring elementsrelative to the width of provide clearance permitting the ring ielements to expand and contract within the groove independently relative to each other, said ring elements being without substantial; dish and a each' having a 'continuou s bevel'ed upwardly inclined peripheralface andia bevel on the underside thereofintersecting the said 7 chrome plating;

on its peripheral face lappingly extended onto-the bevel on its underside, the

peripheral bevel, said ring ele'ment having zone of greatest thickness of the chrome plating be ngin approximately the plane of intersection of said bevels of said ring elementfand extending 7 from but in gradually diminishing thickness from said- 'zone. e

.2 3. ln combin'ation', a piston having a ring groove therein infsaid groove in side by side relation-,a combined axial thickness of said ring elements relative the groove being such as the ring element to expand and contractwithin the groove independentlyof each othe'rgwhile maintaining; them' in' side by'side coacting relation, said 7 ring' elements being without substantial 10? onl'theunderside surface thereof intersecting the in 1 side bevel being in approximately right anglerelat-ionto each other, said ring element having-chrome plating onits-peripheral face l appingly extended on to'the bevel andisplit radially expandable ring t elements formed of ribbon steel coiled edgewise disposed" to the width of' to provide clearance permitting V dish and each having an upwardly "inclined-'7 peripheral iacef'and a bevel of approximately clined peripheral face, the "inclined peripheral face and 'groove' in side by side relation, the combined axial thick- 7 f chrome plating is closely adjacent the plane of the ,under 7 them in side'by siderelation,

initially presented to the cylinder'wall,

"Qclosely adjacent to the plane of the'bottom'side of the ring element.

5. In combination, a piston having a ring groovethe re-e and split radially expandable ring elements formed of ribbon steel coiled edgew'ise disposed in said groove in side'by side relation, the combined axial thickness of the-ring elements r elative ito the'width of the groove being such asrto provide clearance permitting the ring elements to expand; and contract within the e V groove independently of 'each other while maintainingn the: zone of ,greatest thickness of i the chromeplating being in approximately the plane of intersection of said bevels of said ringeelement and extending ,frorn'but in gradually diminishing thickness from V the ring elements each having an upwardly inclined beveled peripheral face terminating closely adjacent to ment, the ring element having a'bevel on its underside intersecting its peripheral facdsaid ring element having chrome plating on its peripheral face lappingly extended upon said bevel on its'under side but projecting downwardly beyond the plane" of the under side of the ring element, the chrome plating upon the peripheralface extending substantially across the same and being of upwardlydiminishing thickness and curvedly merging into the portion of the plating lapped upon the beveled side portion of the ring element which is of radially inwardly decreasing thickness whereby the thickest'portion of the side of the ring element and substantially a line contact closely adjacent the plane of the under'sidelof the; ring is 16. A'split radially expandable piston: ring element formed of ribbon steel coiled edgewise, said ringelernent being without substantial dish and having a: continuous beveled upwardly inclined peripheral face and a bevel of approximately 10 on'the underside thereof intersecting the said peripheral bevel,'the peripheral andside bevels being at HPPI'OXIIIIZI'CBIY 90 angle relative to each other,

' said ring elementhaving chrome plating on'iits peripheral facelappingly extended 'jonto' the-tbevel 'on its under side, the zone of greatest thickness oftthe chrome platingb'eing V in approximately thefplane of'intersection' of said bevels of said ring element and extendingfrom but in; gradually diminishingtbickness from'said zone substantiallyacross' the face of the ring element, the width of the-bevel onthe' under side of said. side or said ring element being of the order of .020 to .030 of an' inch. V V ,7 e

'7. A splitrradially expandable piston: ringhele ment formed of ribbon steel coiled edgewise, said ring'element being without substantial dish and having a continuous beveled upwardly inclined peripheral face and a bevelone the underside thereof intersecting the said peripheral bevel, said ring element having chrome plating on its peripheral face lappingly extended onto the bevel on its underside, thezo'ne of greatest thickness ofethe chrome plating being in approximately the plane ofjinters ection or said bevels of said ring elernent and extending from but in gradu'ally diminishing thickness from said zone substantially across the peripheralface'of the ringelement.

8'. A splitradially expandable ring element formed and split radially expandable ring elements relative to the widths of the groove bein'gesuch asr to provide clearance permitting 10 V the under side of'the ring eleof ribbon steel coiled edgewise having a continuous beveled face and a bevel of approximately 10 on the under surface thereof intersecting the said peripheral bevel, the peripheral and side bevels being at approximate- 1y 90 angles relative to each other, said ring element having chrome plating on its peripheral surface lappingly extended onto the bevel on its side surface, the zone of greatest thickness of the chrome plating being in approximately the plane of intersection of said bevels of the ring element and being of gradually diminishing thickness from said zone on the peripheral face of the ring element.

9. A split radially expandable ring element formed of ribbon steel coiled edgewise having a continuous beveled peripheral face and a bevel on the under surface thereof intersecting the said beveled peripheral face, said ring element having chrome plating on its peripheral face lappingly extended onto the bevel on its side surface, the zone of greatest thickness of the chrome plating being in approximately the plane of intersection of said bevels of the ring element.

10. A split radially expandable ring element formed of ribbon steel coiled edgewise and having an upwardly inclined beveled peripheral face terminating closely adjacent to its underside, and having a bevel on its under side intersecting its said peripheral face, said ring element having chrome plating on its peripheral face lappingly extended upon said bevel on its under side, but not projecting downwardly beyond the plane of the under side of the ring element, the chrome plating upon the peripheral face extending substantially across the same end being of upwardly diminishing thickness and curvedly merging into the plating lapped upon the beveled under side portion of the ring element and being of radially inward decreasing thickness whereby the thickest portion of the chrome plating is closely adjacent the plane of the under side of the ring element, and a substantially line contact closely adjacent the plane of the under side of the ring element is initially presented to a cylinder wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,772,129 Frisby Nov. 27, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 726,954 Great Britain Mar. 23, 1955 

